Reclining-chair.



No. 68I,889. Patented Sept. 3, NHL

9. F. smn'n. BECLINI'NG CHAIR.

(Application filed 29, 1901.)

(No Model.)-

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UNITED STATES PATENT OF CE.

GEORGE F. SMITH, OF MONROE, MAINE.

RECLlNING-CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 681,889, dated September 3, 1901.

Application filed May 29, 1901. flerial No. 62,366. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

' Be it known that I, GEORGE F. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Monroe, in the county of Waldo and State of Maine, have invented new and useful Improvements in Reclining-Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in reclining-chairs, the object being to provide a chair having a pivoted back and foot-rest, the parts being so constructed that when the back is inclined the foot-rest will be raised, but may be depressed independent of any movement of the back; and with said end in view my invention consists in the combination of a chair constructed to provide a fixed seat to which is attached a movable back having a springactuated bar which is normally held raised, the forward end of the bar engaging a footrest which is pivoted to the seat, as will be hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a chair constructed in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectional View showing the back inclined and the foot-rest raised.

Arefers to aseatwhich is securelyattached to a frame carried by the side bars a a, to which the legs are secured. The seat-supporting frame has bars a, which are parallel with the bars a, and the legs are connected by suitable rounds. To the rear cross-bar a of the seat-supporting frame there is hinged or otherwise secured a back B, made up of suitable cross-bars and the side bars having extensions B, which pass between the .bars a a of the seat-supporting frame.

0 refers to segmental pawls which are attached to each of the side bars I) of the back by hinges b, and these pawls are provided on their inner sides with teeth 0, which engage with pins c and prevent when in engagement therewith the back inclining rearward and between the cross-barsaa. In ad- Vance of the pins 0 are pins 0 which limit the swinging movement of the pawls G. Arms D are attached to the side pieces of the back, so as to extend above and below the seat, said arms having the lower parts of such a size'that they may pass through the space between the bars a a.

D refers to a foot-rest which is connected to the front cross-bar of the stationary seat A by hinges d, so that it may swing downward. To the lower ends of the extensions B of the back is secured a cross-piece c, and upon the same is pivoted'a frame E, consisting of side pieces and a cross-bar or roller E, which is normally held in engagement with the under side of the foot-rest by aspring F, shaped to provide a coiled portion f, the ends thereof being made fast to the cross-bar 6, attached to the extensions B of the back. The springF has a bail-shaped or looped portion f, which engages with the under side of the cross bar or bars 6. The tendency of this spring is to force the roller-carrying or outer end of the frame E upward and keep the same in contact with the foot-rest, and said spring is of sufiicient power to maintain the foot rest raised against ordinary pressure when the back is inclined and at the same time to permit the foot-rest to be depressed when considerable weight is placed thereon.

In operation when it is desired to incline the back the occupant of the chair can raise the pawls, which will permit the back to be inclined, and as the back moves downward the frame E will move forward and upward. As soon as the pawls are released they will engage with the pins 0 and prevent further inclination of the back. The frame E will hold the foot-rest at an inclination with the seat, and when the back is fully inclined the foot-rest will be maintained on a line with the seat. In arising from the chair when the back is inclined there can be enough pressure exerted upon the foot rest to depress the spring-section, so that said foot-rest will be dropped down. In this construction it will be noted that the frame E is maintained at an upward inclination and in contact with the foot-rest by the spring. There are no positive connections, and such connections being avoided the foot-rest may be depressed without changing the position of the back. To bring the back to an inclined position, a person in leaving the chair or when seated therein need only relieve the back of pressure and draw forward upon the arms, when the back willraise, as the pawls can slide over the pins. By bearing upon the foot-rest it will assist in straightening the back of the chair.

I claim-- .7

1. In a chair the combination with a seat, a back and a foot-rest movably attached thereto, of a spring-actuated frame carried by the back and adapted to engage with the footrest, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a reclining-chair, a seat supported by a suitable frame, a back and a foot-rest pivoted to the seat-carrying frame, a frame pivotally attached to the lower portion of the back and a spring for holding said frame upward at its forward end so as to engage the foot-rest and permita movement of the footrest and frame independent of the back.

3. In a reclining-chair, a frame having a seat rigidly attached thereto, a back in swinging engagement with the frame said back extending below the seat-supporting frame, a frame pivotally attached to the lower portion of the back, a spring for swinging said frame upward a foot-rest hinged to the seat-carrying frame, segmental pawls connected to the back and pins with which the pawls engage to prevent-a downward swinging of the back, substantially as shown.

4. The combination, in a reclining-chair of a seat-supporting frame, a back connected thereto, a foot-rest movably connected on the opposite side of the frame from the back, arms rigidly attached to the back so as to extend above and below the seat, means for restraining the movement of the back, and a spring-actuated frame held in engagement with the foot-rest substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a chair for the purpose set forth, the combination of aframe having a fixed seat, a back, and a foot-rest both hinged to the seat- 'carrying frame, a spring-actuated frame attached at one end to the back the other end of the frame being adapted to bear upon the under side of the foot-rest substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a chair, the combination of a seat-sup porting frame, a back hinged thereto and provid ed with extensions which extend below the seat, arms attached to the back and to the extensions, pawls pivoted to the back-pins with which said pawls engage to prevent backward movement of the back, a frame pivoted to the extensions of the back, a spring for forcing the forward end of the frame upward and a foot-rest hinged to the seat said foot-rest being engaged by the spring-actuated frame when the back is inclined, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE F. SMITH.

WVitnesses:

PEMBROKE S. STAPLES, Mrs. WM. P. THOMPSON. 

